The district council of South Estevez has been found at fault in a case in relation to asbestos in Grantham council house. On being trialed, the magistrates blamed district council and have asked them to pay £20,000.

The district council was charged for providing asbestos in the area, where it had appointed Belton Developments, to construct a flat. As per Chair of magistrates Madge Marshall-Brown, “This bench believes the majority of culpability lies with South Estevez District Council which had the relevant information but did not disclose this to the contractors”.

The staff of Belton Developments carried the asbestos openly in a wheelbarrow, exposing to the community around. It was after an asbestos inspection officer noticed the staff and stopped them from proceeding further and demanded an immediate meet with the council.

The HSE inspector Mhairi Lockwood stated that he fortunately saw the staff carrying asbestos, with such carelessness and there were chances that they would have exhaled asbestos. Further, the special force dealing with asbestos had to call to clear the area from the asbestos.

Richard Dale, representing Belton Developments, stated that the company did not blame the council for everything that happened, but he agreed that they should have informed about the presence of asbestos at the work place.